Reanalyzing the modified Ferriman-Gallwey score: is there a simpler method for assessing the extent of hirsutism?

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether assessing the extent of terminal hair growth in a subset of the traditional nine areas included in the modified Ferriman-Gallwey (mFG) score can serve as a simpler predictor of total body hirsutism when compared with the full scoring system, and to determine if this new model can accurately distinguish hirsute from nonhirsute women.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional analysis.

SETTING

Two tertiary care academic referral centers.

PATIENT(S): 1,951 patients presenting for symptoms of androgen excess.

INTERVENTION(S): History and physical examination, including mFG score.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Total body hirsutism.

RESULT(S): A regression model using all nine body areas indicated that the combination of upper abdomen, lower abdomen, and chin was the best predictor of the total full mFG score. Using this subset of three body areas is accurate in distinguishing true hirsute from nonhirsute women when defining true hirsutism as mFG >7.

CONCLUSION(S): Scoring terminal hair growth only on the chin and abdomen can serve as a simple yet reliable predictor of total body hirsutism when compared with full-body scoring using the traditional mFG system.